Uncommitted Delegates Launch Sit-In After DNC Rejects Request for a Palestinian Speaker

[Uncle Joe]

Delegates from the Uncommitted National Movement and their allies launched a sit-in protest Wednesday night outside the convention hall in Chicago after the DNC refused to honor their request to let a Palestinian American speak onstage, despite allowing family members of an Israeli American hostage to address the convention. We hear voices from the sit-in with uncommitted delegates and their allies. “Today I watched my party say, 'Our tent can fit anti-choice Republicans,' but it can’t fit an elected official like me?” said Georgia state Representative Ruwa Romman, referring to convention addresses given by anti-Trump Republicans. Romman was among the list of speakers offered by the uncommitted movement that the DNC refused to allow on onstage. “We can’t take no for an answer here,” Minneapolis City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota, tells "Democracy Now!".

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.

[kansasobama]

1. What do they want?

Give election to Trump?

[Uncle Joe]

2. For someone to listen to them. n/t

[comradebillyboy]

3. Right, the DNC should allow these "activists"

to come in and shit on our candidates and disrupt our convention.

[Uncle Joe]

4. They're speaking about their pain, families and friends.

They also know and state that *rump and the Republicans don't care about them.

[speak easy]

9. They want revenge on the Democratic Party,

and a platform to deliver it.

[Uncle Joe]

10. They know that *rump and Republicans don't care about them,

and they state as much in the video.

They also know that the Democratic Party is the most inclusive political party in the United States and probably the world, we're the "big tent party," the GOP is the pup tent.

It would be illogical for them weaken the Democratic Party and by extension themselves.

They're in pain, and they just want to be heard.

[speak easy]

11. It was a Democratic Administration that supplied Israel

the arms they used against Gaza. If your family and friends have been killed by American made bombs, you don't give a shit bout Trump, you want revenge on the Democratic Party. Give them a platform, and they will take it.

Our target is the Democratic Party and the leadership of the party and ‘Killer Kamala’ is one of them.” Abudayyeh justifies the monikers for Biden and Harris, saying, “we feel that their administration is responsible for this ongoing war and genocide.

Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/interactive/2024/meet-the-dnc-protesters/

[Uncle Joe]

13. That's what "the mustard seed and mountain" are all about.

Not to mention they know this is an election year, that Jared Kushner; long time family friend of Netanyahu did some serious almost 3 billion dollars worth of secretive shadow diplomacy while in power and probably afterward that even *rump's state department claimed to have no detailed info on.

They know that *rump's son in law is a long time family friend of Netanyahu. that Saudi Arabia was threatening Qatar over regional influence last year before October 7th.

They know that Qatar is where Hamas political leadership outside of Gaza was located.

They also know that Netanyahu recently assassinated the top Hamas' ceasefire/peace negotiator while he was Iran.

They know that Netanyahu wants a wider war and to pull the United States into it to avoid facing his own corruption charges.

They know that Jared Kushner is buying an oligarch bomb shelter on an Island off the coast of Albania and he believes that "Gaza could be a good investment" for journalist hating MBS's money.

[mjvpi]

12. Thy want to talk about reality in Gaza. Thy want the Democratic Party to acknowledge what is happening.

As the dad f two 20 somethings, this is an important issue.

[comradebillyboy]

16. And I want Taylor Swift to be my girlfriend.

The more important goal is getting Democrats elected. The Democratic Convention is not the place to debate the internal issues of a foreign country.

I am much more concerned with the US than the internal affairs of foreign states.

[mjvpi]

29. Comrade, I guess you missed my point.

We need the young voters to come out in mass to help insure a win. Gaza is not about the “internal affairs of a foreign state”, it is about believing in humanity. Please dedicated 15min of your life and go online and look at pictures of Gaza, then please enjoy your dinner. Millions of human beings won’t have a dinner to enjoy.
,

[Kire]

32. Read the speech for yourself.

Is this "shitting" on anybody?

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/dnc-speech-uncommitted-movement-harris-walz-ruwan-romman/

[nycbos]

5. in 2016 Hillary spent a lot of time, indulging the far left at the DNC with nothing to show for it.

We should not be indulging these people because they will not vote for Harris anyway.

[Uncle Joe]

7. "Indulging"? n/t

[comradebillyboy]

17. Spot on.

[walkingman]

6. What would be the consequences of Democrats publicly supporting the Palestinians?

I do not like what Israel is doing myself. Having said that, would it have a negative or positive effect on the election outcome nationwide?

The most important thing for me is to win in November.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I believe allowing a Palestinian American to air their pain

would be an imminently strong statement as to the Democratic Party's faith in the American People's ability to understand two sides of a long time complex argument and would be a stark juxtaposition to the Republicans' weak, rigid and myopic 1950s McCarthyite mentality.

I also believe the chances for peace would be greatly improved, along with the Democratic Party's chances in November, up and down the ticket.

[mjvpi]

14. I agree. Young people's vote. Back room political calculus

[mjvpi]

15. Not to mention being on the righteous side of history

[thucythucy]

18. How much time was the DNC given to vet the suggested speaker?

The last thing we need is for a speaker to be given a platform, and then turn out to have a history of antisemitism or pro-Hamas statements. Or someone who has publicly opposed a two state solution and has called for the destruction of Israel.

This would blow a huge hole in the news cycle, and absolutely dominate every major mainstream outlet for at least a week, just the opportunity the Trumpists are looking for.

I wouldn't necessarily object to a vetted speaker given some time to humanize the innocent civilians caught in this horrible conflict. But it would have to be carefully done.

Then too, the speaker would have to proclaim their support for Harris and the Democratic Party from the outset. It's absurd to expect a political party, at its national convention, to offer a platform to someone "uncommitted" to supporting that party's candidate, or is perhaps even hostile to that candidate.

As an aside: the demonstrations this week did more harm to the Pro-Palestinian cause than good. The fact that hardly anyone showed up, even though Michigan is right next door to Illinois, showed just how little support this group has, even among Arab Americans.

[Uncle Joe]

19. I don't believe it would be difficult to distinguish an ethical and established Palestinian American speaker of

their truth who also recognizes the critical need to defeat *rump, Netanyahu and Jared Kushner in order to save democracy here in the U.S. as well as over there.

When a people are in pain, they're more easily governed by emotion than reason, so I believe the best course of action would be some measure of alleviating their pain.

As for the turnout, I don't believe it to be a sign of weakness so much as a simultaneous great and desperate hope for Kamala Harris to be President and chart a more enlightened path for the U.S. Palestine, Israel and the Middle East in general combined with their existing pain.

[thucythucy]

24. I agree. It shouldn't be difficult to find a Palestinian American leader

who could be eloquent and considered and, in fact, help President Biden get the ceasefire he's been striving for for all these months now. I wonder if there was more of an effort, earlier on, to encourage such an event, or if it's just this particular group that has seized on this demand as the latest bit of performance politics.

Anyway, when I said the turnout or lack thereof caused more harm and good, I meant for the organizers of this specific action. I had the sense all along the larger Arab American community, which includes the Palestinian American community, were not onboard for these particular organizers and this specific week of actions. The organizers of this week's events just didn't strike me as very good at pulling together a genuine grassroots campaign for the long haul. Such an effort is difficult no matter what the issue is, and it takes a great deal of skill to work it right.

I wonder if there haven't been more astute Arab American community leaders encouraging the administration, behind the scenes, to keep working on a ceasefire. It seems to me that President Biden has put a lot of effort into these negotiations, but between Hamas on the one hand and Netanyahu on the other--and possibly Trump trying to sabotage things as well--he's had the mother of all uphill battles.

Let's hope for a breakthrough soon. The release of all the hostages, a cease fire allowing for humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the downfall--sooner rather than later--of Hamas and Netanyahu. Otherwise this horror will continue without end.

[Kire]

33. As long as it takes to read this.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/dnc-speech-uncommitted-movement-harris-walz-ruwan-romman/

[thucythucy]

35. The article says

"We have been in negotiations for days." "At least a week."

Given the incredible complexity of planning and then managing a national convention, this doesn't seem very long to me. And the vetting process should take a bit longer than the fifteen minutes or so it takes to read a single article.

I've been part of organizing conferences--very small potatoes compared to a DNC--and know what headaches a last minute demand to change the schedule or add an event or speaker can be.

[nycbos]

20. Many of them celebrated Hamas massacre on October 7.

Last edited Thu Aug 22, 2024, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Criticizing Israel, in and of itself isn't antisemitic. But openly supporting Hamas an an organization who is charter calls for the killing of all Jews is. So is stalking and harassing Jewish college students.

[walkingman]

21. The treatment of civilians, even in a time of war, should be a concern

for us - that includes both sides. At some point there has to be a permanent cease fire and a 2-state solution. Otherwise, the conflicts will never end. And once that happens, all parties must be held accountable.

The US loses credibility when we take sides based on politics instead of rule-of-law. We have looked the other way regarding the West Bank settlements for decades.

[nycbos]

22. I see the West Bank and Gaza as two separate issues.

When it comes to West Bank settlements. I agree with you. There needs to be a two-state solution. I oppose the settlements BECAUSE I am pro-Israel. I could go on a 20-minute rant about what I think of the settlers, and I would never get to the substance of your post.


When it comes to Gaza, Hamas uses civilians as human shields. They fire rockets at Israel. Israel has every right to fire back to protect their citizens. They put their launcher sites near where civilians are assembling to increase the chance of civilians being harmed, while they hide underground, like a bunch of cowards.

The death of innocent Palestinian civilians has been tragic. However, their blood is on Hamas' hands. One of the reasons I hate Hamas so much is that they make me sound like I like Netanyahu when I can't stand the SOB.

[msongs]

23. the blood is on the hands of the people who actually do the killing that creates the blood nt

[thucythucy]

25. So, in regard for the deaths of German civilians during World War II,

you'd say their blood is on the hands of the American, Canadian and British crews who flew the bombers, but not on the hands of the Nazi leaders who started that war?

Bear in mind that there were also tens of thousands of French, Italian, Dutch and Belgian civilians killed by Allied bombing campaigns. French civilian casualties during the Normandy campaign alone numbered in the tens of thousands, killed mostly by Allied bombing and naval bombardment.

That blood too, squarely on the hands of Allied soldiers?

[msongs]

27. yep you kill somebody you are literally responsible. extenuating circumstances are a different matter.

the correct phrase is I killed somebody (accepting responsibility for an act) because (explaining why)

[questionseverything]

28. They are not separate

[mjvpi]

30. Respectfully, you have missed the heart and soul of this movement. Spend 15 min looking at pictures of Gaza.

Then go back to your life. Seeing what is happening there affects me deeply. Our tax dollars are doing that.

[nycbos]

31. No I have not.

I am a proud, Jewish American.

I marched against the Muslim ban because I thought it was a repugnant discriminatory policy, contrary to the ideas of our nation and our constitution. I marched for Eric Garner, George Floyd, Sandra Bland, Ahmad Arberry, Breonna Taylor, and several others, because Black Lives Matter. I attended the women's march after Trump's inauguration because women's rights are human rights. I attend pride parades because gay rights are human rights. I have done everything that a good progressive is supposed to do.


Hamas is a terrorist organization, whose charter calls for the killing of all Jews worldwide. After they perpetrated the largest massacre of Jews since the holocaust many of the same people I marched with celebrated on October 7. Since then, Jewish students have faced stalking, threats, and harassment on college campuses across the country because your movement sees American Jews, as responsible for the treatment of Palestinians. Decent Muslims all around the world spoke out against what happened on 9/11. They said the attackers were a disgrace to Islam. If Palestinian Americans followed suit, I would be willing to have a dialogue with them. But until then, as our friends across the pond might say "bugger off"

[AkFemDem]

26. Sorry, no you dont get to ruin our convention

They've made it VERY clear how they feel about the DNC, President Biden, and VP Harris. Why TF would they expect MY party (as opposed to theirs, they have turned their back on it) to give them a platform that they'd use to further malign MY party and MY candidate? Oh hell no, they can just stay outside.

[Kire]

34. Can you paraphrase how they feel?

You said it's very clear. Shouldn't be a problem, amirite?

[Oopsie Daisy]

36. A picture (and offensive sloganeering) is worth a thousand words. Is this clear enough for anyone still confused *

* and needing paraphrasing and visual aids?

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Oopsie Daisy]

37. I guess the "Killer Kamala" and "Genocide Joe" nicknames didn't go over very well, eh?

Jackass losers. Whining that the DNC wouldn't give them a national platform so that they could shit on the DNC, our party, our president and our nominee. Fuck that!

Also, Jill Stein, Nazi flags, Hamas terrorist garb and Soviet uniforms at their little rally really doesn't win-hearts-and-minds either.